Friday, April 29, 2005
What the papers say
Goodbye Labour
I started this blog as a sceptical Labour voter. I distrusted Tory Tony, but was prepared to give the party the benefit of the doubt, as I believed they had my values.
As a lapsed Labour member I have waited for the Labour Party to contact me asking for my vote. And waited. And Waited. I am not alone in this.
No letter. No phone call. No car sticker. No neighbours trying to pesuade me to rejoin the party (not that I would, after Iraq!). No requests to put a poster in my garden.
Last week I met Angus MacNeil for the first time.
I've never voted SNP before, but at least Angus had an interest in what I was saying and shared many of my beliefs.
Last night was the last straw.
Labour lied about Iraq. They tried to cover up, and - sin of sins - did it badly. They've been caught out, and instead of apologising and being honest, they've tried to brazen it out and tried to cover up the cover up. I'm disgusted that they have sunk to this level, and they have now lost my vote. Forever.
I could never trust Labour again, and I'm going to do what I can to remove them, and that means voting SNP, and persuading all my firends to do the same.
Calum, you've blown it big time.
As a lapsed Labour member I have waited for the Labour Party to contact me asking for my vote. And waited. And Waited. I am not alone in this.
No letter. No phone call. No car sticker. No neighbours trying to pesuade me to rejoin the party (not that I would, after Iraq!). No requests to put a poster in my garden.
Last week I met Angus MacNeil for the first time.
I've never voted SNP before, but at least Angus had an interest in what I was saying and shared many of my beliefs.
Last night was the last straw.
Labour lied about Iraq. They tried to cover up, and - sin of sins - did it badly. They've been caught out, and instead of apologising and being honest, they've tried to brazen it out and tried to cover up the cover up. I'm disgusted that they have sunk to this level, and they have now lost my vote. Forever.
I could never trust Labour again, and I'm going to do what I can to remove them, and that means voting SNP, and persuading all my firends to do the same.
Calum, you've blown it big time.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Calum MacDonald misunderstands depopulation
Having had nothing of any substance from the Labour Party (where are those car stickers this year???) I'm having to rely on Gazette reports. Which is less than satisfactory.
Calum proclaims that unemployment has dropped. Yes Calum BUT, that's only because your Government's policies have meant that those of working age have left the island and now live in Inverness, Aberdeen or Glasgow.
What's his next target? Ensuring that there are no children living below the poverty line, by ensuring that there are no children born in the Western Isles?
All my classmates have gone away. No children were born in my village last year. The houses are being sold to retirees at prices I can't afford.
Still, unemployment is down, so I should be happy about this unsustainable trend.
I'm bloody angry, and I intend to make sure Calum gets a bloody nose next week.
Calum proclaims that unemployment has dropped. Yes Calum BUT, that's only because your Government's policies have meant that those of working age have left the island and now live in Inverness, Aberdeen or Glasgow.
What's his next target? Ensuring that there are no children living below the poverty line, by ensuring that there are no children born in the Western Isles?
All my classmates have gone away. No children were born in my village last year. The houses are being sold to retirees at prices I can't afford.
Still, unemployment is down, so I should be happy about this unsustainable trend.
I'm bloody angry, and I intend to make sure Calum gets a bloody nose next week.
Angus G blasts Calum MacDonald
Angus Graham has a good go at Calum in this weeks Gazette.
Calum's response - I've made the Comhairle even bigger and more unmanageable with more jobs for the boys; and I blame a Labour appointee (Ross Finnie) for the crofting cock-up.
Hmmmm! Both of these issues are reserved, and neither are Calum's responsibility.
But let's look closer at what Calum says.
Instead of reducing dependence on the state by creating new private sector jobs, Calum believes that success is measured in the White House getting even fatter and more crammed with paper-pushers.
Secondly, Almo can't do his job properly and needs Calum to help him. Remember, this legislation is the supposedly the fault of Ross ("Cpt Mainwairing") Finnie. Yet, he was appointed by Jack McConnell. The legislation was approved by the Executive i.e. Jack. The legislation was passed through the Parliament, where presumably Almo opposed it and highlighted all these issues (hint: he didn't). And, it is being played up by the Labour party as A Good Thing.
Good on you AG.
Calum's response - I've made the Comhairle even bigger and more unmanageable with more jobs for the boys; and I blame a Labour appointee (Ross Finnie) for the crofting cock-up.
Hmmmm! Both of these issues are reserved, and neither are Calum's responsibility.
But let's look closer at what Calum says.
Instead of reducing dependence on the state by creating new private sector jobs, Calum believes that success is measured in the White House getting even fatter and more crammed with paper-pushers.
Secondly, Almo can't do his job properly and needs Calum to help him. Remember, this legislation is the supposedly the fault of Ross ("Cpt Mainwairing") Finnie. Yet, he was appointed by Jack McConnell. The legislation was approved by the Executive i.e. Jack. The legislation was passed through the Parliament, where presumably Almo opposed it and highlighted all these issues (hint: he didn't). And, it is being played up by the Labour party as A Good Thing.
Good on you AG.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Beaten to the punch
Here's me thinking I had all the news first, when I find that Cllr Angus Nicholson has already told Calum that he was in breach of the DPA.
No word on how Calum has reacted, but my sources are keeping their ears to the ground.
I can't see how Calum can get around this breach in the law, and I forecast a complaint to the Police and the Returning Officer.
Remember you read this here first :-)
No word on how Calum has reacted, but my sources are keeping their ears to the ground.
I can't see how Calum can get around this breach in the law, and I forecast a complaint to the Police and the Returning Officer.
Remember you read this here first :-)
Forward, not back
Pity that Calum didn't take the old East German slogan to heart when he published the Labour newspaper (sic) in this week's Gazette.
As Calum basks in the glory days of the last Parliament but one with photots of Donald Dewar opening the Scalpay bridge in 1998, I though now was the time to re-evaluate his previous promises. But let's start with what he has promised Labour will deliver in the next parliament, and ask the simple question - Why haven't they done it yet?
I've dug out my copy of the Labour Record from the last election .... more to follow.
As Calum basks in the glory days of the last Parliament but one with photots of Donald Dewar opening the Scalpay bridge in 1998, I though now was the time to re-evaluate his previous promises. But let's start with what he has promised Labour will deliver in the next parliament, and ask the simple question - Why haven't they done it yet?
I've dug out my copy of the Labour Record from the last election .... more to follow.
Friday, April 22, 2005
A Third World country
Isn't it a savage condemnation of the Government that the OSCE are sending observers to ensure that the election in the UK is conducted fairly. This only happens whent here is a risk of fraud or other improper activities.
Any day Blair will invite Dubya to "liberate" the UK and bring democracy to the people!
Any day Blair will invite Dubya to "liberate" the UK and bring democracy to the people!
Calum Macdonald - criminal
Q. What law is Calum breaking?
A. The WICLP and Alasdair Morrison are not registered under the data protection act, so they are breaking the law if they use computerised records to identify supporters. Calum is not registered for political activity, so he's stuffed too.
My understanding is ... if Calum gets info from Alasdair or any other source, he's breaking the law.
What are the Labour Party playing at, making such fundamental errors?
A. The WICLP and Alasdair Morrison are not registered under the data protection act, so they are breaking the law if they use computerised records to identify supporters. Calum is not registered for political activity, so he's stuffed too.
My understanding is ... if Calum gets info from Alasdair or any other source, he's breaking the law.
What are the Labour Party playing at, making such fundamental errors?
Overheard in the pub....
Labour supporters to SNP supporter: "Why on earth did you pick a Barra Catholic? You know that Lewis will never vote for a Catholic."
"Mind you, I hope they do."
"Mind you, I hope they do."
Thursday, April 21, 2005
The empty office
I wondered past Calum's election office thrice in the past few days. Not so much the black hole of Calcutta as the Marie Celleste.
The SNP office seemed to be heaving, and the Lib Dems was closed.
The Tories were invisible and Dan Murray has yet to allow his candidate anywhere near the public.
The SNP office seemed to be heaving, and the Lib Dems was closed.
The Tories were invisible and Dan Murray has yet to allow his candidate anywhere near the public.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Labour care about the Western Isles
As the SNP claim is that Westminster doesn't care about the Western Isles, it is astonishing to see the Labour Party website claim...
Labour in your area
There are no statistics yet for your new constituency because it has only just been created as a result of boundary changes across Scotland. But you can see here the improvements Labour's brought about in your area since we came to office in 1997. Click on the local contact information link to see details of your candidate for Parliament.And then gives Calum's contact details as being John Smith House, Glasgow.
Talk about selling the pass....
Labour in your area
There are no statistics yet for your new constituency because it has only just been created as a result of boundary changes across Scotland. But you can see here the improvements Labour's brought about in your area since we came to office in 1997. Click on the local contact information link to see details of your candidate for Parliament.And then gives Calum's contact details as being John Smith House, Glasgow.
Talk about selling the pass....
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Calum, Calum, Calum
No "Printed and Published by...." on last week's Gazette advert.
What has happened to the fabled (sic) Labour Party machine? My spies tell me that the wheels are coming off.
{No, this isn't the law breaking I was referring to - more to follow next week}
What has happened to the fabled (sic) Labour Party machine? My spies tell me that the wheels are coming off.
{No, this isn't the law breaking I was referring to - more to follow next week}
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Patricia Hewitt - insincerity personified
She's at it again; schoolmistressly patronising to the masses, she talks advanced bollocks for bureauocrats. Not just that, she turns in the wind like a piece of confetti.
Or in this instance, like a P45 in Birmingham.
So, presumably she'll give evidence support the Rover 4 to the "inquiry" proposed by Gordon Brown.
Or in this instance, like a P45 in Birmingham.
So, presumably she'll give evidence support the Rover 4 to the "inquiry" proposed by Gordon Brown.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Labour aim for full employment
And give us redundancies at:
- Rover
- Stolt
- Scottish Executive
- NHS
- and George Lonie at Cal Mac???
Criminal Calum
Here's a teaser.
Q. Which law has Calum MacDonald been in persistent breach of?
A. To follow :-)))))
Q. Which law has Calum MacDonald been in persistent breach of?
A. To follow :-)))))
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Calum MacDonald and pylons
Why, oh why, has Calum tried to keep us in the dark about the pylons that are now going to stride across the moor?
As a (equivocal) supporter of windfarms, I am appalled that Calum has tried to mislead the public over the vast number of pylons that wil be needed.
It probably doesn't change my view, but Calum will be stirring up a hornets nest by appearing to deliberately mislead the voters.
How can he be so stupid or dishonest?
As a (equivocal) supporter of windfarms, I am appalled that Calum has tried to mislead the public over the vast number of pylons that wil be needed.
It probably doesn't change my view, but Calum will be stirring up a hornets nest by appearing to deliberately mislead the voters.
How can he be so stupid or dishonest?
Labour Passport policy is madness
Ignore the data protection and privacy issues, and just read the principles of the report.
If I want a new passport, and I going to have to travel to Glasgow to collect one? We are already disadvantaged enough without the need to travel 300 miles just to get the rigth to go on holiday.
Why do Labour have this totalitarian streak that they feel the need to exercise at every opportunity?
If I want a new passport, and I going to have to travel to Glasgow to collect one? We are already disadvantaged enough without the need to travel 300 miles just to get the rigth to go on holiday.
Why do Labour have this totalitarian streak that they feel the need to exercise at every opportunity?
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Friends of Calum (3)
As the Scotsman reports:
Yesterday, Jack McConnell flew to the Western Isles to visit the school building with Calum MacDonald, the Westminster parliamentary Labour candidate for the Western Isles constituency (now known as Na h-Eileanan an Iar). Outside of this election, such a visit would be quite legitimate. Indeed, even during such an election campaign, it would be unremarkable. After all, education and school building are devolved matters.
What has caused protest was the simultaneous presence of the First Minister with the Labour Party candidate. Does this not muddy the waters with local voters, creating the impression, unintended though it may be, that the rebuilding of the school was in some way a Westminster issue?
Would not the appearance of the First Minister with the candidate convey the impression of some form of favourable treatment and endorsement? And should not the cost of the air flight be treated as a party-political expense, rather than part of the First Minister’s travel expenses to be paid out of Scottish Executive funds?
But the big question is, why wasn't Calum in Parliament to deal with what he is paid to do? Could this be because he has only attended 69% of the votes in the last parliament?
Yesterday, Jack McConnell flew to the Western Isles to visit the school building with Calum MacDonald, the Westminster parliamentary Labour candidate for the Western Isles constituency (now known as Na h-Eileanan an Iar). Outside of this election, such a visit would be quite legitimate. Indeed, even during such an election campaign, it would be unremarkable. After all, education and school building are devolved matters.
What has caused protest was the simultaneous presence of the First Minister with the Labour Party candidate. Does this not muddy the waters with local voters, creating the impression, unintended though it may be, that the rebuilding of the school was in some way a Westminster issue?
Would not the appearance of the First Minister with the candidate convey the impression of some form of favourable treatment and endorsement? And should not the cost of the air flight be treated as a party-political expense, rather than part of the First Minister’s travel expenses to be paid out of Scottish Executive funds?
But the big question is, why wasn't Calum in Parliament to deal with what he is paid to do? Could this be because he has only attended 69% of the votes in the last parliament?
Just how brown nosed is Calum MacDonald?
Thanks to the Guardian for the following ....
How Calum MacDonald voted on the following key parliamentary votes:
Identity cards - No vote
Foxhunting ban - For
University tuition fees - For
Foundation hospitals - For
Iraq war - For military action (Guga: Despite being told not to by the WICLP)
An all elected House of Lords - Against
Adoption by unmarried and gay couples - Against
Detention of terror suspects without trial - For
If you are re-elected, what single piece of legislation would you like to help enact?
My primary focus will continue to be to tackle depopulation in the islands by giving Hebrides the level of economic growth its educated and skilled population deserves, and which can encourage its young people to return. I shall also encourage the further spread of land reform with a target of 70% of the Western Isles being in community ownership by the end of the next Parliament.
What does the second response mean? It means that Calum is devoid of ideas and policies, and after 8 years, Labour still haven't a clue.
How Calum MacDonald voted on the following key parliamentary votes:
Identity cards - No vote
Foxhunting ban - For
University tuition fees - For
Foundation hospitals - For
Iraq war - For military action (Guga: Despite being told not to by the WICLP)
An all elected House of Lords - Against
Adoption by unmarried and gay couples - Against
Detention of terror suspects without trial - For
If you are re-elected, what single piece of legislation would you like to help enact?
My primary focus will continue to be to tackle depopulation in the islands by giving Hebrides the level of economic growth its educated and skilled population deserves, and which can encourage its young people to return. I shall also encourage the further spread of land reform with a target of 70% of the Western Isles being in community ownership by the end of the next Parliament.
What does the second response mean? It means that Calum is devoid of ideas and policies, and after 8 years, Labour still haven't a clue.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Calum MacDonald is a wet fish
As Stolt disappear from the fish farming scene, Calum is quoted in the WHFP saying
“There is a great deal of anxiety in the Western Isles about Marine Harvest’s plans for the Scalpay factory after the proposed merger with Stolt. I have written to Cameron Davidson, the managing director of Marine Harvest, urging him to consult with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar before any plans are announced that might affect the status quo at Scalpay."
Wow! That'll worry them to the core. How dynamic, how representative, how helpful. Calum, why don't you just visit Scalpay and talk to the voters, instead of talking at them???
Gadaffi is already telling them not to ever vote for you again, as you are worse that a wet weekend in Mangersta with the mother-in-law. Mind you, Duncan MacInnes once described Alasdair at a WIFA meeting as, "As much use as a f*ing chocolate fire guard"
“There is a great deal of anxiety in the Western Isles about Marine Harvest’s plans for the Scalpay factory after the proposed merger with Stolt. I have written to Cameron Davidson, the managing director of Marine Harvest, urging him to consult with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Western Isles Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar before any plans are announced that might affect the status quo at Scalpay."
Wow! That'll worry them to the core. How dynamic, how representative, how helpful. Calum, why don't you just visit Scalpay and talk to the voters, instead of talking at them???
Gadaffi is already telling them not to ever vote for you again, as you are worse that a wet weekend in Mangersta with the mother-in-law. Mind you, Duncan MacInnes once described Alasdair at a WIFA meeting as, "As much use as a f*ing chocolate fire guard"
Friday, April 08, 2005
Someone tell Dokus, quick
Oops, but you can't say anything political for the next 4 weeks. Silence will be a blessing for us all.
Don't vote for Calum macDonald - says Labour
In a shock development, the New Statesman is advising it's readers not to vote Labour. Given that the ex-Paymaster General (Geoffery Robinson) is the editor, this is surprising, and probably puts his knighthood in doubt.
With friends like that .... Bye, bye, Calum.
With friends like that .... Bye, bye, Calum.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
And they are off....
Quite possibly the least exciting election in years. I'm really, really, looking forward to this, as Calum may say something of interest about something.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Nonsense claims
Anyone who read this weeks Gazette would be shocked by the poverty of Calum's claims.
According to him, we should vote Labour as the last time that the population in the Western Isles increased was when Labour were in power in the 70s; and, Labour had spent a lot of money on CalMac.
If the first is accurate, then the past 8 years have been a savage condemnation of Labour.
The second, is - of course - a devolved power, and nothing to do with Calum.
Is he actually trying to lose???
According to him, we should vote Labour as the last time that the population in the Western Isles increased was when Labour were in power in the 70s; and, Labour had spent a lot of money on CalMac.
If the first is accurate, then the past 8 years have been a savage condemnation of Labour.
The second, is - of course - a devolved power, and nothing to do with Calum.
Is he actually trying to lose???
